Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“That is bullshit,” Dean said as he put the Impala into park.

“But the energy reading indicated that the spirit’s origin is here,” Castiel replied. They got out of the car.

“It’s a fricking chemical plant, do you gonna tell me the guy died falling into some chemicals, Joker style, except it killed him?” Castiel tilted his head and offered no answer. Mumbling to himself Dean got the gasoline and salt. He handed both to Castiel, before taking the shotgun, checking if it was properly loaded. In the meantime, Castiel had placed gasoline and salt into a bag, he had slung over his shoulder, so his hands were free. Dean handed the angel a flashlight, before taking the second one and throwing the trunk shut.

The duo advanced into the plant. It was no longer operating, but it was still mostly intact, massive tanks and pipes everywhere. The buzzing of the machines still seemed fill the air. It made the hair on Dean’s arms stand up.

“It’s an angry spirit,” Castiel observed. As if to prove his point something rattled.

“Someone or more so something is definitely here,” Dean replied. The barrel of the shotgun and the light of his flashlight roaming through the room.

Again, a sound, steps this time on the catwalk over them. Dean focused the shotgun on the shadow up there. But Castiel pressed the barrel down, before Dean could pull the trigger.

“Human,” Castiel explained. Dean stared up at the figure. How human became clear, when the air suddenly went cold, before the person on the catwalk was sent flying with a shriek.

“Hunters or just a bunch of kids?” Dean asked darkly.

“Dee,” a worried call echoed through the room.

“Hunters, I believe,” Castiel said.

“Oh, really?” Dean replied already running towards the stairs. But he only came so far, before the ghost manifested in front of him, bringing him to a scattering stop. The figure was a man covered in something that hissed upon hitting the ground, despite it not having any effect. Apparently Dean hadn’t been so far off with his Joker comparison.

Dean stared a moment to long at the substance dripping from the ghostly form, because before he had a chance to shoot the ghost, if threw him against the closest wall. As Dean picked himself up from the floor, a shot echoed through the room. The ghost vanished and Dean’s movement became a lot smoother and faster.

“It’s one of the chemical tanks,” Dean yelled at Castiel. Castiel was moving before Dean had finished his sentence. But instead of heading for the tanks, he went for the stairs.

“How exactly do you salt and burn a metal tank?” a voice asked, that made Dean, who had been following Castiel up the stairs, halt.

“Deanna?” he mumbled to himself, before he picked up his pace to reach the top of the stairs at the same time as Castiel.

“We only need to burn the inner layer,” the angel said. “His existence is not linked to the tank itself but the residues of the substance in it.”

“Uncle Cas?” Deanna asked. She turned to Dean. “Uncle Dean?”

“Deanna?” Dean asked. “What are you doing here?”

“You know each other, great, can we talk maybe after the ghost is dealt with,” the girl beside Deanna asked.

“That seems efficient,” Castiel said. He glanced at Dean once, before he moved down the catwalk.

“Efficient, my ass,” Dean grumbled, hurrying after Castiel, in case the ghost decided to try and stop Castiel from killing it. But yet it was him the ghost was going for.

“Dean, watch out,” Deanna cried out, but Dean was already flung over the railing of the catwalk. Thankfully he didn’t landed in the chemical tank. Landing on the blank concrete a story and a half if not more below was not great either. A groan indicated that while hurt, Dean was alive.

Castiel shortly glanced into the direction his partner had been flung in, listening to the pain echoing through his own body. He decided that Dean wasn’t anywhere close to a state that needed his immediate attention, so he continued spreading the gasoline as evenly across the inner part of the tank as possible, before adding the salt.

In the meantime, Deanna and the girl, who was with her, had hurried down the stairs and towards where Dean had landed.

“Are you okay?” Deanna asked, crouching down beside him.

“Give me a moment,” Dean muttered, pushing himself into a sitting position. “Cas?” Instead of an answer there was a small explosion as Castiel dropped the match into the tank. The explosion was accompanied by the ghost, a few feet from where the humans were, bursting into flames too. By the time the humans got their bearings after, Castiel was almost by them. As he reached the group, he crouched down opposite of Deanna on Dean’s other side. He gently ran his fingers along Dean’s temple. Dean sighed as the aches caused by the fall vanished.

“Thanks, angel,” he mumbled, when Castiel pulled back enough to allow Dean to get to his feet.

“Always,” Castiel replied. Dean instantly turned his attention to Deanna.

“What are you doing here?” he asked again. “Do you parents know, what you are doing?”

“Who are you to asked this kind of questions,” Deanna’s companion asked.

“He is my uncle,” Deanna said. “Keep up, Lea.”

“Your uncle?” Lea asked. “He looks our age and more like you than Max ever did.”

“It’s a long and complicated story,” Deanna said. “And somewhat of a family secret.” She glanced at Dean, as if she was asking if he and Castiel still went around pretending that Castiel wasn’t an angel and were purposefully vague on their relationship. “And to answer your questions, Dean, I’m doing the same as you, hunting that spirit and of course my parents don’t know, Max does though.”

“Why?” Dean asked. “Sam wanted to give you and your brother a normal life.”

“Uncle Dean,” Deanna said condescendingly. “I’m neither dumb nor blind. Having an angel around kids? You and Cas not aging? Spending Holidays at Bobby’s? That causes a girl to asked questions.”

“And I thought your parents hated me, because I got you interested into the supernatural,” Lea said.

“No,” Deanna said. “If they really hate you, which I doubt, then for given me a way into the hunt, like I wouldn’t have ended up here anyway. Can you imagine me behind a desk?”

“I want to see them if either of their siblings get killed by a monster,” Lea said. “How many people would stay by in that kind of situation?”

“Killing a Winchester is notoriously difficult and most of the time even the threat of hurting them is met with a swift death of the offender,” Castiel stated.

“Yeah, being a Winchester comes with a certain reputation,” Deanna said. “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad.”

“They think you’re in college,” Dean said. “At least that is, what Sammy told me the last time we spoke.”

“Let them believe it,” Deanna pleaded. “Max and I have it under control.”

“Your brother is out there too?” Dean asked.

“No,” Deanna said. “He barely gets up from his computer. Either playing or working on his own college classes. If he texts me is either a rant over a problem I don’t understand or a check this out, could be a hunt.”

“And your parents are oblivious to that?” Dean asked.

“I think so,” Deanna said. Dean sighed.

“I can’t stop you anyway, right?” he asked.

“Nope,” Deanna said. “It’s in my blood.”

“But you have my number, right?” Dean asked. “Don’t play hero. If you in over your head, call me.”

“Sure,” Deanna said. “But in turn you don’t call Mom and Dad.”

“Sure,” Dean said, and Deanna and Lea were on their way.

“She is a Winchester,” Castiel said. “Sam’s intelligence, Jess’s persistence.” He looked at Dean. “Your stubbornness.”

“You’re one to talk,” Dean said. “You showed her the supernatural.” Castiel didn’t say anything to defend himself.

“Will you tell Sam?” he asked instead.

“I don’t think so,” Dean said. “She has to explain it to her parents, that is not on me.” Dean looked around. “Let’s get moving, our job is done here and I could really use something to eat.” He wrapped his arm around Castiel.

“You’re always hungry,” Castiel replied fondly.

Chapter Text

A couple of weeks later

“This is the right address?” Dean asked.

“Yes,” Castiel said, his eyes focused on the sign above the bar instead of the phone screen with the address.

“Dude knows how to pick a bar,” Dean replied. “Wonder what he has to say.” They got out of the car.

“You read the news articles,” Castiel said. “And your phone just slipped out of your pocket.”

“I swear the pockets are getting smaller,” Dean muttered, reaching back into the car. “Or the phones are getting too big.”

“If you were more careful, you could reduce the number of jeans and clothing in general you have to replace,” Castiel stated.

“Not everyone can walk away from a hunt looking like they just went for a stroll,” Dean replied. “And while I skimmed the articles, I don’t think this is a hunt. To be honest, it looks more like a human serial killer. Let’s see what Jacob has to say.”

“He’s still considered a rookie, right?” Castiel asked as they moved towards the entrance.

“Yep,” Dean confirmed. “Fifteen months don’t really make you an experienced hunter.”

“So, it’s reasonable to assume that he misinterpreted what is happening,” Castiel summarized. Dean nodded and held the door open for the two of them. They knew what Jacob looked like, thanks to a photo, and were therefore able to spot him. After a stop at the bar to get beer, they slid into the booth across from him. Jacob looked up from his tablet when the hunter and angel sat down.

“You must be Dean Winchester,” Jacob said.

“The one and only,” Dean confirmed with a grin and tipped his beer bottle in greeting.

“I heard stories about you,” Jacob said.

“Only good ones, I hope,” Dean replied.

“Are there good ones?” Jacob asked, making Dean’s smile fade. Dean’s grip on the bottle tightened, as Jacob’s eyes flickered to Castiel, with a certain pity, as if he was sorry that Castiel had to work with someone like Dean. It wasn’t something new, newer hunters, who only had heard about Dean’s worst habits, tended to pity Castiel, not knowing Castiel wasn’t a new hunter stuck with Dean, but an angel, who couldn’t and didn’t want to leaven.

“If that’s the case, why did you call?” Dean asked.

“Because they say you’re the best,” Jacob replied. “You might want to take a look at this.” Jacob pushed his tablet across the table. While Dean skimmed the articles yet again to see if Jacob had found anything new since their call, Jacob turned to Castiel. “And you are?”

“I’m Castiel,” Castiel said.

“And you’re with him?” Jacob asked, lowering his voice, as if Dean wouldn’t hear him that way.

“I’m where I’m supposed to be,” Castiel replied.

“Are you?” Jacob said, leaning forward. “But always? I’m sure you use other company.” Dean’s eyes flickered  to Jacob’s face. “I’m sure I would enjoy your company.” Despite being quite certain that Castiel had no idea what Jacob was insinuating, Dean decided to interrupt.

“You’re bustling, buddy,” Dean said.

“What?” Jacob asked, his head snapping back to Dean, who was pushing the tablet over to Castiel, so the angel could take a look at it too.

“This isn’t our kind of gig,” Dean explained. “I don’t think it’s a hunt.”

“But all the dead people,” Jacob offered.

“Two of the victims were shot,” Castiel said, looking up from the tablet. “I don’t know of a monster that uses modern firearms.”

“Except the worst of them all,” Dean said. “Humans.” Castiel nodded and continued studying the articles.

“Are you implying what I’m think you’re implying?” Jacob asked. Dean leaned forward, lowering his voice.

“This looks like the work of a serial killer,” he said. “A human serial killer. And while neither of us fits his type, I would suggest we leave.”

“I agree with Dean’s conclusion,” Castiel said. “This is a case for the local authorities, not a supernatural issue.”

“You... you’re  just saying that to steal the hunt,” Jacob said.

“And why would we do that?” Dean asked, already nudging Castiel to stand up.

“So you can do it yourself,” Jacob said.

“And what would we gain from that?” Dean asked. “We don’t get paid, fame in the community at best and I don’t think I need to steal other people's hunts to get stories told about me. Let’s get out of here, angel.” They left the bar.

“You think he will approach this as a hunt?” Castiel asked on the way back to the car.

“I hope not,” Dean said. “I’m counting on him just staying a while longer, so we don’t see him leave.” As they reached the car and were about to part ways to get to the driver and passenger door respectively, Castiel stopped.

“You’re agitated,” he stated, touching Dean’s arm, making the hunter stop too. “Is it because this isn’t a hunt and we wasted our time?”

“No,” Dean said, shaking his head. “Well, yes, kind of. But especially because of the way he looked at you.”

“People who only heard stories about you, pity me all the time for being stuck with someone as “unpredictable” and “reckless” as you,” Castiel said, confused. “It wasn’t the first time, and it will not be the last.”  Dean shook his head again.

“Not that,” Dean said. “He wanted you. He literally invited you to spend the night with him.”

“You’re feeling possessive,” Castiel observed. His face softened. He raised his hand to Dean’s neck, running his thumb over Dean’s stubble. “You know, I only want you.”

“I know,” Dean whispered, wrapping his arm around Castiel to pull him closer. “Doesn’t mean I like it when people hit on you.” Castiel raised his other hand to pull Dean into a kiss. The ringing of a phone made them pull apart. Dean leaned his head against Castiel’s shoulder with a groan.

“I believe that is your phone,” Castiel said. Dean nodded before pulling out his phone.

“Dean Winchester,” Dean said as he picked up.

“Uncle Dean?” Deanna asked, panic evident in her voice. “You said to call you.”

“What is going on?” Dean asked.

“Lea and I found... It doesn’t...,” Deanna tried to explain, the connection breaking constantly.

“Deanna, where are you?” Dean asked, alarmed, sensing that the connection wouldn’t hold.

“We’re in...ing... Ne...,” Deanna tried but failed to tell them her and Lea’s location. Then the line went silent.

“Deanna?” Dean asked. “Dee?” No answer. Dean disconnected the call and tried to call back. The call went directly to voicemail. Dean lowered the phone and looked at Castiel. “I think Deanna is in trouble.... And we have no idea, where she is.”

Chapter Text

„Call Max,“ Castiel suggested. „Deanna said she gets hints about hunts from him. Maybe that was the case here, or he can track her phone.”

“I assume you can’t find her,” Dean said, already scrolling through his contact looking for his nephew’s number.

“She was deliberately hiding her hunting not only from her parents but also from us. She knew she’d need to hide from an angel if she wanted to keep us in the dark, and she found a way,” Castiel said. “Any luck?”

“Max isn’t answering either,” Dean said. “I’m afraid I have to call Sam. How the fuck do I explain to him that his kids are hunting and apparently missing? He’s going to kill me.”

“He will do no such thing,” Castiel said, squeezing Dean’s shoulder. “And while we don’t know where Deanna is, we can check on Max before you tell Sam that both kids are gone. Deanna said he barley gets up from his computer. His collage is two hours from here; I think you can get there in less.”

“You bet your ass we will not need two hours,” Dean said. “Get in.”

“The fragments Deanna was able to tell us about her location were very vague,” Castiel said as Dean pulled out of the parking lot.

“We don’t even know, what she was trying to tell us,” Dean added. “The name of a town, a street, a state? And was she saying the same thing twice and was cut off at different times?”

“Based on her speech pattern, typical hunter communication, and the kind of information she needed to relay so we could potentially help her, I would assume that she named the town and the state, as that is the information needed to find her,” Castiel said. “Since you asked her directly where she was, the town and state would be the appropriate answer.”

“But neither went through,” Dean replied, his foot heavy on the gas and his knuckles white, from the tight grip on the steering wheel. “There must be dozens of cities, towns and villages that have an ‘ing’ in their name and the state is impossible to decipher too.”

“There are six states that start with ‘Ne’ alone,” Castiel stated. “And five additional states have an ‘n’ followed by an ‘e’ somewhere in their name.”

“Elven states,” Dean said. “That is almost a one-fifth of the US. And not only do we not know where she is, we also not know what was happening.”

“But we know she was not alone,” Castiel said. “She said ‘we’ and we know about Lea.”

“One more set of parents whose kid is missing,” Dean said.

“We will find them,” Castiel said. He layed his hand on Dean’s thigh, rubbing his thumb in soothing circles, trying to calm his hunter’s nerves and sooth his anxiety.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Dean replied.

“Did I ever made a promise I couldn’t keep?” Castiel asked.

“No,” Dean answered. “You’re not the type for empty platitudes.”

“So, you better believe me when I say we will find them,” Castiel said. “We will figure this out, together.”

“Like always,” Dean whispered.

“Like always,” Castiel agreed.

When they pulled into the parking lot of Max’s dorms, Castiel was already studying the rows of windows.

“The one with the closed curtains on the second floor,” Castiel said. “Max is there.”

“I will go,” Dean said. “You stay. I will be back as fast as I can.”

“Blending in with the college kids?” Castiel asked.

“For better or worse,” Dean said before sliding out the car. Without any hindrance, Dean made it to the door of Max’s room. That he pounded against it like his life depended on it didn’t seem to bother anyone either. The boy ripping open the door wasn’t Max.

“Max Winchester?” Dean asked. The boy made a gesture for Dean to come in. As the boy moved past his roommate, who was sitting at the PC, he pulled of the headphones.

“Someone is pissed at you,” he said. Max turned to the door, when he saw his uncle, his face went white.

“Dean?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here because of your sister,” Dean explained. The roommate perked up.

“Leo, go,” Max ordered

“But...” Leo started.

“Out,” Max demanded again. “Or I’ll delete your paper form the prof’s inbox.” That threat was apparently real enough to make Leo leave. “What about Deanna?” Max asked, as soon as they were alone.

“She is missing,” Dean said.

“What?” Max asked. “How?”

“We don’t know yet,” Dean replied. “She called me, panicked, but couldn’t tell me where she was. The connection broke.” Max was no longer looking at Dean but already focused on the screen in front of him. “Do you have any idea where she might be?”

“The last thing I sent here was in Colorado, but that was almost two weeks ago. That’s enough time to get practically anywhere,” Max said. He grabbed his phone; it didn’t turned on. “The thing is dead, shit.” 

“Well, that explains why you didn’t answer my call,” Dean said. Max, who was dealing with the cables, paused and looked at his uncle.

“That’s why you’re here,” he said before finally succeeding in plugging in his phone.

“Yeah, not the biggest fan of colleges,” Dean said.

“Could’ve fouled me,” Max said, waiting for his phone to boot up. After it did, he checked his texts. “Okay, neither Deanna nor Lea told me where they were heading. Dee’s last text is still that they finished the hunt in Colorado.”

“So you have no idea where the girls have been either,” Dean said.

“I don’t,” Max said. “But Deanna’s phone does.” He turned back to the PC screen. “Looks like Nebraska.”

“Matches what we got from her,” Dean said. “Got an ‘ing’ and ‘Ne’. Cas assumes it’s the town and state. Nebraska would work.”

“Let’s see what’s the next town that fits the other letter is,” Max said. “The ping is rather imprecise because her phone is either off or dead, but I suggest you begin your search in Lexington.”

“It’s the only lead we have,” Dean said. He turned to leave.

“Dean?” Max stopped him. Dean turned back to him. “Will you tell Mom and Dad?”

“They deserve to know what your sister is doing,” Dean said.

“But you promised her you’d keep it a secret,” Max reminded his uncle.

“I know,” Dean said. “But that was before she got herself into trouble.” Max averted his eyes.

“I should have...” he mumbled.

“Should have what?” Dean asked.

“I should have been there with her,” Max exclaimed.  “She’s my big sister.”

“You’re right, where you’re supposed to be,” Dean said. “It was her decision to hunt, and it was yours not to. Both are valid, and right now, you can best help her from here.” Dean gestured towards the screen. “Cas and I will do the legwork.”

“Just find her,” Max pleaded. Dean squeezed his shoulder.

“We have to,” Dean said before he was again on his way to the door. “Thank for the help, and call if you hear from her.”

“I will,” Max promised. “But you have to promise me, you will call me the second you find her or need help with anything.”

“Of course,” said Dean, who knew all too well what it was like to worry about a sibling. Dean made his way back to the car.

Chapter Text

The drive to Lexington took longer than Dean would have liked, but it gave Castiel the chance to check if there were any hints about what Deanna and Lea could have been hunting.

“Dean, either put your phone back in your pocket or use it, but fidgeting with it will only provide an unhelpful distraction,” Castiel said.

“Encouraging using the phone behind the wheel?” Dean asked.

“I’m encouraging you to concentrate,” Castiel said. Without looking up from his research, he reached over and took away Dean’s phone.

“Angel,” Dean protested.

“You can have it back if you reach a decision about calling Sam and Jess,” Castiel said, putting the device in the glove compartment.

“Do you even understand why this is so hard for me?” Dean asked. Castiel shot him a look. “Okay, fine, maybe you do know.”

“Wouldn’t you want to know if something happened to Claire?” Castiel asked.

“Bad comparison,” Dean decided. “First of all, she’s not my daughter.”

“Could have fooled me,” Castiel deadpanned.

“You’re one to talk,” Dean muttered. “Secondly, she is twice Deanna’s age and also has, like, twice the experience, and she’s with Kaia. And most importantly, we know she is hunting. That’s the problem. I promised Deanna that I wouldn’t tell her parents about hunting. I have to tell them about her being missing. But I don’t know how to do it without telling Sammy his princess decided to follow my footsteps instead of his.”

“You would do well to remember that she grew to resent that nickname,” Castiel said. “And regardless of what you tell your brother, he will know that Deanna is hunting, simply because you’re the one who reports her missing.”

“So you’re suggesting I call Sam and just tell him?” Dean asked.

“I believe the phrase is: ripping off the band-aid,” Castiel offered.

“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Dean asked.

“No,” Castiel said.

“Sure,” Dean replied. “Found anything?”

“No,” Castiel said. “I found nothing that indicates supernatural activity. Either Deanna and Lea consulted sources we typically do not consider or they were tricked.”

“Someone set out a trap for them?” Dean asked.

“It’s a possibility,” Castiel said.

“You said you found no indication of supernatural activity online,” Dean said. “What do your angelic senses tell you?”

“Something is off,” Castiel admitted. “I’m not certain if it’s legitimate supernatural activity or just residue of whatever Deanna did to keep us off her track.”

“So we’re close to where she was?” Dean asked. Castiel tilted his head.

“Take the next left turn,” Castiel said. Dean complied.

“The motel?” he asked as soon as he spotted the sign.

“The motel,” Castiel confirmed. Dean pulled into the parking lot.

“Do I get my phone back before we get out of the car?” Dean asked. Castiel sighed dramatically before handing Dean his phone.

“Don’t fidget,” Castiel warned.

“Or what?” Dean asked.

“You won’t like what I would do,” Castiel said.

“Weird way of wording, ‘I will not heal you’,” Dean joked.

“I will incinerate it,” Castiel threatened.

“Got it,” Dean said, sliding the phone into his pocket and getting out of the car. The parking lot was decently full. “Is that Deanna’s car?”

“The model and the license plate match,” Castiel said. Dean took a look inside the car.

“Nothing to see,” he said. “They most likely checked into a room.”

“But that would mean that whatever happened to them happened in their room,” Castiel said, trailing after Dean towards the reception.

“More reason to check it out before some poor employee stumbles over something they can’t explain,” Dean said. They reached the reception. “Hey.” He leaned on the counter and smiled at the young woman on the other side.

“How can I help you?” she asked.

“I could think about a few things,” Dean said, earning a giggle. “But in all honesty, do you happen to know anything about two girls about my age checking in?” Dean pulled out his phone. “One of them looked like this.” He pulled up a photo of Deanna and handed the phone over.

“What do you want with her?” the receptionist asked.

“You think I’m a predator?” Dean asked with fake outrage. His scars probably didn’t give the best first impression. “She is my sister.” The receptionist’s face softened imperceptibly.

“And you...?” she asked.

“She doesn’t answer her phone,” Dean said. “Family is worried, this isn’t like her. I just want to make sure she is fine. So could you please tell me her room and maybe hand me the key, if she’s not in?” That would save them the break-in. The receptionist made a thinking sound. Dean suppressed an eye roll, pulled out his wallet, and pushed a twenty-dollar bill over the counter.

“Room 106,” the receptionist said, turning to the key rack. “Here. You’re lucky she and her friend only took one key.”

“Aren’t I,” Dean said, grinning before leaving the reception.

“106,” Dean said as he walked past Castiel, who had waited by the door. The duo found the room and Dean let them inside.

“Good news, it doesn’t look like a fight happened here,” Dean said.

“Bad news, it seems like all you Winchesters are chaotic,” Castiel said. “And Lea either is too, or she is not tidy enough to counter it.”

“You mean like you,” Dean teased.

“I’ve just gotten used to picking up after you,” Castiel said.

“Don’t say it like you don’t enjoy the mundane aspects of it,” Dean said.

“Right now, I’m thinking about extending the threat to your phone,” Castiel said.

“Message received,” Dean said with a chuckle. “Let’s see if the girls left any clue behind about what happened.”

The duo meticulously checked the room. They moved every item and checked under everything. Eventually, Dean got desperate enough to take the beds apart. After stripping everything, he lifted the mattress.

“Cas, you might want to take a look at this,” he called. Castiel appeared behind Dean’s shoulder. Both of them were now studying the symbol carved into the wood.

“Any idea?” Dean asked.

“No,” Castiel said. “It’s not a language I’m overly familiar with.”

“At least this isn’t the work of an angel or demon then,” Dean said. “Is there blood in it?”

“It’s not human,” Castiel said.

“I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better,” Dean said. He dropped the mattress, which hit the bed frame with an ominous sound. The next moment, it felt like they were falling, before landing in a heap of flannel and trench coat on hard ground.

Chapter Text

The air was filled with the smell of old books and ink, much more like Bobby’s study than a motel room superficially cleaned with harsh chemicals.

“You’re good, angel?” Dean asked, sitting up to take a look at their new surroundings. 

“I am,” Castiel said. “How about you?” Castiel got to his feet.

“I’m fine,” Dean said. Castiel shook his head, as he pulled Dean to his feet. He pushed his grace into their connection to chase off any lingering aftereffect of what just happened, in his human companion.

“Don’t,” Dean grumbled. “We don’t know what’s going on. Don’t waste your grace if we might need it for more important things.” Castiel rolled his eyes, used to this speech but always willing to risk being a bit more vulnerable—especially if there was no obvious threat and it made Dean more comfortable. “Where are we anyway?”

“In a library,” Castiel said. “We’ve been displaced.”

“What?” Dean asked. “Well, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.”

“We weren’t in Kansas to begin with,” Castiel said. “We were in Nebraska.”

“It’s an Oz reference,” Dean muttered. “Never mind.” He took another look at the bookshelves, then at the table that was separated from the main library area with a few steps. “Any idea as to where we’ve been displaced?“

“No,” Castiel said. “And that’s worrying me.” Dean turned back to him.

“You’re worried?” he asked. “That tends to end bad for me or both of us.” Castiel’s head snapped toward the tunnel in the lower area.

“Someone is coming,” he explained. “And I don’t think they’re friendly.” Angel and hunter scattered behind different shelves. Dean heard the footsteps too.

“Come out, I know that you’re there,” a voice called. Dean glanced over to Castiel, who had shock written all over his face.

“Dean,” Castiel mouthed, something Dean could only understand because he had spent more than enough time hearing the angel say this word. Dean’s hand went to the back of his jeans, despite knowing very well that there was no gun.

“Come out,” the voice yelled again. Dean risked a glance around the edge of the shelf. A shot echoed through the space.

“We’re certainly not coming out, if you’re shooting at us,” Dean called.

“You broke into my home,” the other person called. “I have every right to shoot at you.”

“We aren’t here to cause trouble,” Dean said. “We didn’t even want to be here.”

“Then why are you here?” the other guy asked.

“Supernatural interference,” Castiel said. He stepped out behind the bookshelf. Dean was about to yell at him for that—despite the fact that whoever was holding the gun was unlikely to have bullets that could actually hurt Castiel—when the angel said: “Hello, Dean.” Dean heard a gun clatter to the ground, therefore deeming it safe enough to step out behind the bookshelf too.

He had trouble believing what he was seeing. Beside the table stood someone who looked eerily similar to his own reflection, but older.

“Cas?” older Dean whispered, as if the concept of seeing Castiel was something he had a hard time accepting.

“Dude, what happened to you? You look old,” Dean said, before he could stop himself. Older Dean’s head snapped toward Dean.

“You will get there,” he growled.

“I don’t think so,” Dean said.

“People age,” older Dean said. “Get over it.”

“Other people, but not us,” Dean replied. “I thought that was a constant. Actually, I never really thought about the possibility of other Deans.”

“Dean, what is all this commotion?” a new voice asked. Sam stepped into the room. “Oh.” He looked at Dean that at Castiel. “Oh, no.”

“We’re not here to cause issues,” Dean said, before the younger brother could pull out a gun. “We didn’t want to come here, it was… Wait.” He turned to Castiel. “If that thing transported or displaced us, would the same go for Deanna and Lea?”

“Presumably,” Castiel said. He turned back to older Dean and Sam. “Have two girls in their twenties been here?”

“No,” older Dean said. “And we have better things to do than babysitting.”

“Dean,” Sam said. “They need our help.”

“I’m certain we don’t,” Dean said defensively, crossing his arms.

“Dean,” Castiel protested, reaching for his arm. “We don’t know how or why we’re here and we have no means of getting home. While we might not necessarily need their assistance, accepting it could speed up the process. And we still need to find out what happened to Deanna and Lea, especially if they haven’t been here.”

“Question is, are we even on their trail? What we heard over the phone didn’t sound like a sudden displacement, more like a fight,” Dean said. Castiel hummed in a way that sounded like agreement, but Dean had long since learned it was more an indication that he hadn’t had an answer or comeback, was stalling, or was even ending a conversation. Since Dean couldn’t expect more input from his companion, he turned back to Sam and older Dean, The latter was staring at Castiel’s hand on Dean’s elbow as if it personally insulted him. “What are you staring at?” Dean asked. “Where is your Cas anyway?”

“Gone,” older Dean growled.

“What do you mean gone?” Dean asked. Castiel’s hand dropped from Dean’s elbow. In turn Dean looped his fingers through Castiel’s belt loops, because there was no way, Castiel was getting close to his other versions of Dean and his brother.

“They’re not like us,” Castiel said, and while that probably was meant to be soothing, it really wasn’t.

“Obviously,” Dean said. “Look at his face. And Sammy has never looked that ragged. And I’m still waiting for an explanation of the ‘gone’.” Older Dean turned on his heels and stormed off. Sam sighed.

“He is on edge since Cas and Jack took off,” he explained. “It might have been his fault, at least he thinks it’s his fault.”

“I threatened to kill the kid,” older Dean’s voice echoed.

“Yeah, that,” Sam said. His eyes flickered between Dean’s and Castiel’s face. “Since we’re actually just waiting to hear from either of them, we’re free to help you get back home. Dean will come around… eventually.” Dean and Castiel exchanged a look. This was going to be weird. Very weird.

Chapter Text

Deanna startled awake. Lea was already awake, sitting on her bed braiding her hair with a calm that had Deanna questioning, if she had just dreamed everything.

“This might sound weird,” Deanna started.

“We hunt monsters as a full-time job, which doesn’t pay,” Lea said. “The bar for weird is very high.”

“Yeah,” Deanna said. “But I could have sworn that we just met another version of Cas, but that might have been a dream.”

“No, that really happened,” Lea said.

“How are you so calm about this?” Deanna asked, practically jumping out of bed.

“We hunt monsters,” Lea repeated. “And we already established that one of your uncles is an angel and both of them are squarely in the supernatural realm, so I decided to not question anything anymore.”

“You’re not weirded out one bit by this?” Deanna asked. “We just went to another universe.” Deanna reached for her phone. “And I have 10 missed calls, which means time moved while we were gone.”

“And someone came in here,” Lea said. “The second key is laying beside the TV.”

“We have to leave,” Deanna said. “If someone was in here, that can’t mean anything good.”

“But they left the key,” Lea replied, as Deanna hurried into the bathroom.

“I don’t care,” Deanna called through the closed door. “We’re leaving, pack your stuff. I will be out in a minute.”

“You're probably the only girl who is out in a minute when she says she will be out in a minute,” Lea mumbled, but began packing her stuff. When Deanna emerged from the bathroom, Lea continued: “Even if you think we need to leave, you might want to call Dean to tell him we’re alright?” Deanna, who had been packing her own stuff, stopped.

“Right,” she mumbled. She dialed Dean’s number. “Dead.”

“What do you mean dead?” Lea asked.

“Dialing tone and then nothing,” Deanna said.

“Weird,” Lea said. “Maybe he will call back. We still don’t know what’s going on here.”

“So,” Sam said awkwardly. “It seems your life went a little differently. Or more so didn’t went so far yet.” While Dean stayed where he was, Castiel already began inspecting the books.

“Looks can be deceiving,” Dean said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Sam asked. “You look like you’re in your twenties.”

“Emphasis on look,” Dean said. “I’m 52.”

“No way,” Sam said.

“Yes way,” Dean said. “The power of grace.”

“Cas is keeping you like this?” Sam asked bewildered. Dean shrugged.

“More like a side effect,” Dean said. “He keeps me alive; I keep him powered up. It comes with a benefit or two.” Sam’s expression, if possible, turned more bewildered. “I guess that’s not what happened here.”

“Both Dean’s and Sam’s souls carry traces of grace, but it’s not a version of mine,” Castiel announced from in between the bookshelves.

“Yeah,” Sam said sheepishly. “While Cas healed us dozens of times, being possessed possibly leaves bigger impacts.”

“Possessed?” Dean asked, slowly backing away.

“Were possessed,” Sam explained, as if that would soothe Dean’s nerves. It did not. “Right... ah… there was Lucifer, of course, and Gadreel for me, and...”

“Wait, Lucifer?” Dean asked.

“Yes,” Sam said. “The apocalypse?”

“That is why this world is in this sorry state?” Dean asked. “Angel, I think I owe you a lot more thank yous.”

“Wait, you didn’t have an apocalypse?” Sam asked.

“Nope, never went to Hell,” Dean said. “The damn seal is still intact.”

“But how do you two meet then?” Sam asked.

“Dean got almost killed,” Castiel said, as he appeared from between the bookshelves, with at least five books in his arms. “I was sent to save his life so that he eventually could go to Hell.” He dropped the books on the table.

“It backfired on Heaven,” Dean said. “Instead of a man alive to make a demon deal, they got a man bound to an angel, rendering demon deals unnecessary and my death unlikely.”

“We kind of took the opposite route,” Sam said. “Instead of not dying, we just keep coming back to life. We were God’s favorite characters, then we pissed him off, he killed Jack, Jack came back without a soul, which means Dean thought he was a threat, Cas didn’t like it, and they took off. Since then you would think Cas is dead… no, actually Dean is worse when he’s grieving Cas. This is just sad and frustrating. But enough of how bad this world turned out, let’s try to get you back into yours. I will get a coffee. You want any?”

“No, thank you,” Dean said. While Sam vanished into the tunnel, Dean joined Castiel at the table.

“I don’t understand it,” Castiel said, thumbing through a book at a speed so fast that Dean couldn’t make out any of the symbols. “How could any version of me choose anything over you?” He stopped thumbing through the pages and looked at Dean.

“I don’t know, angel,” Dean said, pulling out a chair to sit at the table. “But we hated each other at the start too.” Castiel nodded slowly, still looking a bit lost.

“I guess the bonding was not part of the plan,” Castiel mumbled.

“Hey,” Dean said. “Don’t think about it too much. It’s not your responsibility to fix any of this.”

“Dean, don’t you understand?” Castiel asked. “This is what we were supposed to become. You’re so …”

“Bitter,” Dean offered. Castiel nodded.

“Broken,” he added. “Broken by the apocalypse and whatever happened after.”

“Hey,” Dean said. “We’re here and we’re good, right?” He reached out, taking Castiel’s hands in his. “We figure out how we got here and, more importantly, how we get home and find Deanna and Lea along the way. How does that sound?”

“Reasonable,” Castiel said.

“Great,” Dean replied. He squeezed Castiel’s hands, before letting go. “Then tell me why you singled out these books.”

“I told you I didn’t know the language,” Castiel said.

“Yeah,” Dean agreed.

“That means it’s a language that’s old and rarely used. I would have instantly known what it was otherwise,” Castiel explained. “That eliminates all modern languages and most of their direct predecessors. Also Latin, Ancient Greek, Enochian and a few others. But that also leaves a lot of possibilities. It makes the most sense to try to find similar symbols on simple translations to identify the language. Once identified, we can start digging for the actual meaning of the symbol. If Sam is actually willing to help us, we might just draw the symbol. Not sure about the safety of that yet.”

“It will be fine, angel,” Dean said. “The symbol was carved into wood, nothing will happen if you draw it on a piece of paper.”

“Glad you agree that I will draw it,” Castiel said.

“I have long given up on trying to live up to your standards of drawing stuff with actual meaning, where every line could count,” Dean said.

“You guys made a plan yet?” Sam asked, who now reappeared with his cup of coffee.

“Indeed,” Castiel said. “If you can provide paper and pen, I can draw the symbol we saw and we can search the books.”

Chapter Text

They spent hour poring over the books. The only sound in the library was the turning of pages and the closing of heavy books. They had been through more than Castiel’s original five books when Castiel stood up without any indication as to why. Dean didn’t even notice until Castiel was already at the entrance to the tunnel and he himself let out a yawn. That explained why the symbols in the book seemed to blur together.

“Where did he go?” Sam asked. Dean made a sound that Sam couldn’t interpret and kept working. Castiel’s reentry was just as simple as his exit. He placed the retrieved coffee next to Dean’s hand. Dean grunted, a sound that Castiel knew to interpret as a thank you.

“You could have said that you were getting coffee,” Sam said. “Or at least asked if I wanted some.” Both Dean, who had just begun lifting his coffee, and Castiel turned to look at Sam. The angel was wearing a face that implied that even the question was an affront. “You didn’t even get any for yourself.”

“I don’t require caffeine,” Castiel stated. Before anyone could add to that statement, the older Dean, who had been hiding the whole time, came storming into the library.

“Can anyone explain to me why he…” he pointed at Castiel, “…came into my kitchen, looking ready for a fight.”

“Withholding coffee could have led to a physical confrontation,” Castiel replied.

“Withholding coffee?” older Dean asked.

“If the whole family is at Bobby’s, he regulates coffee,” Dean said. “Says four, later five people drinking coffee would bankrupt him. It got so far that Sam began bringing coffee powder to compensate for his family consumption.” Sam and older Dean looked at Dean like he grew a second head. Dean drank his coffee and tried to ignore them. His stomach growled.

“Get me something to eat...,” Dean asked. He didn’t even voice the” would you, angel” anymore, because Castiel had already vanished again.

“What the fuck?” older Dean yelled. “Did you just order... order Cas to get you something to eat?”

“No,” Dean said, honestly puzzled.

“It sounded like an order,” Sam agreed with his brother.

“It wasn’t an order,” Dean said. “And even if it were, don’t you think Cas could just refuse if he didn’t want to do something.”

“He bought you coffee and now he is getting you something to eat,” older Dean pointed out. “And you think it’s normal.”

“It’s called caring,” Castiel announced. He not only found something to eat, but something that looked like a freshly cooked meal.

“Serving is not caring,” older Dean argued.

“Dean’s well-being is my main concern,” Castiel stated.

“And that includes serving?” older Dean asked.

“No,” Castiel said, finally setting the plate down. “I don’t have the same physical limitations a human has, so Dean’s body sets the limits. I try to counter the needs before they become relevant.”

“The coffee?” Sam asked.

“Dean got tired, so he either required rest or caffeine,” Castiel said. “Given the situation coffee made more sense.” He made a face. “It seems I underestimated Dean’s need for fuel.”

“That is crazy,” older Dean grumbled.

“It’s called devotion,” Castiel countered.

“Call it what you want,” older Dean grumbled, clearly bitter. He turned to Sam. “I made dinner.” He stormed off. Sam shot Dean and Castiel an apologetic look before he followed his brother.

“I feel deeply sorry for this version of us,” Castiel announced, while Dean began to eat.

“You and me both,” Dean mumbled into his food. While Dean wolfed down his food, Castiel continued checking the books.

“Oh, oh,” Castiel said when Dean was almost finished. He went searching for another book.

“Nordic runes?” Dean asked, glancing into the book Castiel left open on the table.

“Runes,” Castiel confirmed. He returned to the table with a new book. “This library is immense; Bobby would be jealous.”  Dean cleaned the rest of his plate and the two of them began to search for the correct symbol together.

“It could be any of them,” Dean said eventually. “Sure you got the right language?”

“I’m sure,” Castiel said. He continued turning pages.

“Wait,” Dean said suddenly. He turned back a few pages and looked between those two pages. Then he pulled the drawing Castiel made for Sam over. “Isn’t that a mix of these three?” Dean pointed at the the symbols he identified as part of the one that sent them here.

“The human’s brain’s capability of pattern recognition,” Castiel said. “But this time you might be right.” Castiel began drawing the different symbols, trying to make sense of them.

“Whoever Deanna and Lea encountered, they are experiencing with runes,” Castiel said eventually. “I’m not sure if sending us here or anyone anywhere was part of the plan.”

“So, we’re dealing with the Nordic pantheon?” Dean asked.

“I would think so,” Castiel said. “The question is why we ended up here.”

“Connection to other versions of you,” a new voice said. Another Castiel had manifested in the library. “Is Dean here?”

“I think your Dean is eating in the kitchen,” Castiel said. “Do you know something that we don’t?”

“While we had contact with other universes, never like this,” other Castiel said. “But that makes sense. Dean ended up here because the closest thing to his soul, the soul of this Dean, is here. I assume you know a Deanna and her friend Lea.” Castiel and Dean nodded. “Their souls had no counterpart, but she had enough contact with grace to give it something to latch onto and it brought them to me.”

“Where are Deanna and Lea now?” Dean asked.

“They disappeared,” other Castiel said. “I’m hopeful they returned to your universe.”

“So, they’re save?” Dean asked.

“As save as they can be with someone using them as guinea pigs,” other Castiel said.

“Sam is so going to kill me,” Dean groaned.

“You should call him as soon as we return,” Castiel advised.

“Before I can do that, we have to find a way home,” Dean said.

“Just use the counter for the runes,” other Castiel advised.

“Worth a try,” Castiel said. Other Castiel nodded, he watched Castiel looking through the book trying to find counters.

“How did you do it?” other Castiel’s asked eventually.

“Did what?” Castiel asked.

“Be happy?” other Castiel whispered, like speaking that out loud was treason.

“Trauma,” Dean said. “Lots of trauma bonding.”

“We also went through a lot of trauma,” other Castiel said.

“You met in Hell right?” Dean asked, trying to piece together the story based on what Sam told him. “We meet before Hell. I’m afraid we can’t help you with that. We’re pushing off the apocalypse as it is.” Other Castiel nodded with longing in his eyes.

“Any idea, what the counter to Yggdrasil is?” Castiel asked. Before anyone had the chance to answer, Dean and Castiel lost the ground under them and were falling.

Chapter Text

Dean felt the scraggly carpet under him but was mostly focused on the faint scent of ozone that always clung to the person atop him.

“Cas, get up, you’re heavier than you look,” grunted Dean, pushing the angel off him.

“My apologies,” Castiel said, scrambling to his feet. “We seemed to be un-displaced; it threw me off for a moment.”

“This looks familiar,” Dean said, as he took in the room. Two beds with awful bedding. The table that looked like it was about to collapse into itself. Dean made his way toward the window.

“It should,” Castiel said. The angel had moved over to a bed. He cautiously lifted the mattress. “We’re back in the girls room.”

“But their stuff is gone and so is the car,” Dean said. “While we were gone, they came back and moved.”

“So the other Castiel was right on that one,” Castiel said. “We need to contact Deanna, Max and Sam.”

“We need to get out of here first,” Dean said. “Preferably without anyone noticing. We can call in the car.”

“The door is locked,” stated Castiel, who reached the door first.

“First time I’ve been locked inside a motel room,” Dean muttered. He picked the lock. The duo hurried through the parking lot and got into the Impala. Only once they were on the road, Dean handed Castiel his phone. “Call Deanna first.”

Castiel dialed the number. The dialing tone sounded twice, then the line went dead.

“It appears that we’re still unable to contact her,” Castiel summarized. “Max or Sam next?”

“Max,” Dean decided. Castiel called Max’s number.

“You asshole,” Max yelled the moment he picked up.

“Slow down,” Dean demanded. “What did I do?”

“You dropped off the fucking map,” Max continued to yell.

“Max,” Castiel said. “We didn’t do so maliciously. What is the problem?”

“After Dean told me that Deanna is missing, I was monitoring his phone. Shortly after you arrived in Lexington, you disappeared,” Max explained. “And Deanna’s phone reappeared. And now hers is gone and you’re back.” Castiel and Dean shared a look, both of them having an idea what that could mean. “And you neglected to call me when you found Deanna.”

“Well, we didn’t get the chance,” Dean tried to explain.

“Fine,” Max said with a long exhale. “You talked to Mom and Dad yet?”

“They’re next on our list,” Dean said. “You talked to them or your sister?”

“Deanna is going a bit crazy because she can’t contact you,” Max explained. “What do I tell her, if this switching thing continues?”

“We will figure it out,” Dean said. He paused. “You might have to play messenger though.”

“That is the least I can do,” Max said.

“Any idea what Deanna and Lea’s plan looks like?” Dean asked.

“They didn’t tell me anything concrete,” Max said. “But based on their movement before they vanished, they headed north. They were about to leave Lexington. I don’t know if they were running or if they had a lead on something.”

“We’re will take a look into it,” Dean said. “And you keep your head down and focus on your work.”

“Dean,” Max complained.

“You heard me,” Dean said. “You stay at your computer; we don’t need you to go missing too.”

“I will be fine,” Max said.

“He is just worried,” Castiel said.

“I know,” Max said. “Take care and find Deanna and Lea.”

“We will,” Dean said. Castiel hung up.

“Sam?” Castiel asked.

“We should,” Dean said. He sighed. “I’m just unsure if this isn’t the kind of thing you do in person.”

“I believe, we lack the time to drive to him,” Castiel said.

“I know,” Dean said. “Call Sam.”

“Would you prefer that I leave you alone for the call?” Castiel asked. Dean’s hand flew from the steering wheel to Castiel’s wrist.

Without taking his eyes off the road, he said: “Don’t even think about it. Who- or whatever is playing switcharoo with us, the girls and the universe could get active any moment, and I would rather have you with me.“

“As you wish, Dean,” Castiel said. “I’ll call Sam then.”

“I’m at work, can’t this wait?” Sam asked when he picked up.

„Depends,” Dean said. “It’s about Deanna.”

“Family emergency,” Sam told someone who was with him. A pause. “What is wrong with Deanna?” Sam’s voice was closer to the receiver now, and there was an edge of urgency in it.

“She is missing,” Dean said, ripping of the band-aid just like Castiel advised him to.

“What do you mean she’s missing?” Sam asked, almost panicked.

“Did you know she hunts?” Dean asked. Sam let out a deep and weary sigh.

“I expected something like that,” Sam said. “What did she get herself into.”

“It appears she had an encounter with someone related to the Nordic pantheon,” Castiel said.

“Hey Cas,” Sam greeted.

“Hello Sam,” Castiel replied. “As of now, we don’t know what is happening, but it appears we’re just as much part of it as Deanna and Lea are.”

“My daughter and my brother stuck in the middle of a mystery of supernatural origin,” Sam said. “What is my life?”

“We are working on it, Sammy,” Dean said. “We will get your daughter back.”

“I know you will,” Sam replied. “But please be careful.”

“We will, Sammy, we will,” Dean said. A yell sounded from Sam’s side, and it echoed through the line.

“Shit, that’s my boss,” Sam hissed. “Take care you two and find Deanna.” The line went dead.

“He sounded surprisingly composed,” Castiel said.

“Well,” Dean said. “The information needs a moment to sink in. He will have a breakdown once he is out of the stress of his office.”

“What do we do next?” Castile asked. “It’s logical to assume, based on Max’s information, that Deanna and Lea are a counter to us. As of now, it appears we can’t be in the same place.”

“And it’s our own fault,” Dean said. “Because we activated the symbol.”

“We might have done that,” Castiel said. “But as said before, it appears like Deanna and Lea were in a fight, or at least in active danger. The motel room didn’t reflect that.”

“And that is why we’ll keep following Deanna and Lea, even if we can’t directly interact with them,” Dean said. “We need to know what they found. Since they didn’t tell Max anything, we have to try and find their notes, hopefully in their car.”

“This street leads straight north from the motel,” Castiel realized.

“And there is their car,” Dean said. He pulled over, parking the Impala not far from Deanna’s car.

“You don’t actually plan on breaking into your niece's car, do you?” Castiel asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dean said. He reached over Castiel to the glove compartment.

“What do you want?” Castiel asked, pushing Dean softly back upright.

“Paper and pen,” Dean said. Castiel pulled the requested utensils from the glove compartment. “We will leave a message.” Dean scribbled a few lines on the paper before getting out of the car. He stuck the note under the windshield wiper. Then he peered into the car. “At least it looks like they came to a stop safely. Doesn’t look like they disappeared in the middle of the road.”

“Dean,” Castiel called alarmed. The last thing Dean noticed was Castiel’s hand on his shoulder, the angel’s grace pressing into their connection, before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

“Dean.” The sound of his own name was what threw him back into his body. The air was heavy with humidity and smelled of moss and half-rotten wood. With a heaviness that normally only came with exhaustion on his part and low grace on Castiel’s end, Dean scrambled to his feet. It seemed like something had thrown him into a tree. He was in the woods, and it was night. Based on recent events, Dean assumed that he and Castiel had been displaced again, but where was Castiel?

“Dean,” the voice from before called again. “Get moving.” Dean froze mid-rise. He hadn’t heard that voice in decades. Dean’s eyes fell on the shotgun by his feet. Instinct took over. He picked up the gun and ran towards the voice. Dean sprinted into a clearing, where a grave had been dug and John Winchester was busy fighting off at least three ghosts, if not more.

“Dean, burn the bones,” John barked. Dean found empty salt cans beside the grave. He searched his pockets for his lighter, suddenly shockingly aware of how helpful it was to have someone who either kept your things organized or knows where to find stuff in your chaos better than you. Finally, Dean found the lighter, lit it, and threw it into the grave. “Finally.” Dean caught himself flinching. He kept his eyes trained on the fire. Thankfully, John had never been a man of many words. In silence, they watched the flames and reburied the bones after.

As he stumbled after John through the woods towards a car he didn’t know where to find, Dean desperately tried to piece together what was going on. Obviously, it had not been his body transported this time, but his… what… consciousness? Had been thrown into another Dean’s body. Not even necessarily that; Dean couldn’t be sure that he and John didn’t go on this hunt. Dean was somewhat relieved that they came with two cars. The Impala and the truck stood side by side and gave Dean the chance to follow John toward where they were staying and to deal with the absence of Castiel in the passenger seat in solitude.

Once back at the motel room, John got the whiskey from the kitchen and dropped heavily onto the couch. Sam was sleeping in one of the beds, or more so, feigning sleep. Dean moved towards the bathroom.

“Hope you don’t go puking,” John said, as Dean crossed the threshold of the bathroom.

“I’m fine,” Dean muttered, throwing the door shut loud enough that it would have woken Sam if the boy was actually asleep. Once the room was locked, Dean stripped his torso. The smoothness of the skin glared back at him. Where the scar of the shot that should have killed him should be, where the faint lines that made the entry point of the bullet should make it look like a spider web, should be, was just smooth skin.

“Cas?” Dean whispered, running his hands over where the lines that were traces of the grace that kept him alive, should be. When he dropped his hand, it was shaking. Dean gripped the sink until his knuckles turned white. His heart was pounding and his breath labored. “Cas.” It wasn’t a question anymore, it was a plea of someone who wouldn’t know he existed by now.

But… Dean still knew all of it, even if he was in a body that had been his over thirty years ago. Maybe Castiel remembered all of it too. He had too, right?

“Dean, are you quite finished?” John called. Dean squeezed his eyes shut, tried to settle his pulse and his breathing. Then he gathered his clothes from the floor and unlocked the door. John hurried past him, zipper already half down. Dean pulled the door shut as he stepped into motel room.

“You’re alright?” Sam’s sleepy voice asked.

“I’m fine,” Dean said. He pulled his t-shirt and jacket back on before stepping outside. Without knowing where he was going, Dean began walking down the street. Two streets away from the motel, a soothing feeling settled over him.

“Cas?” Dean asked, hopeful. Castiel was standing right beside him once he turned. Without thinking about it, Dean pulled Castiel into a hug. “You’re here.”

“Of course, I am,” Castiel replied, returning the hug, pulling Dean even closer. “I had to convince Jimmy ahead of time, not sure how that will influence what happens in a few years.”

“So, we’re in the past,” Dean asked.

“It looks like it,” Castiel said. The two finally let go. “This is going to be complicated.”

“Right,” Dean said, frowning.

“We can’t explain ourselves to your father or your brother,” Castiel said. “We know how your father reacted the first time, and at that time we just lived through the bonding and your almost-death. And Sam is months away from leaving, not a great time either.”

“Then I can’t go back,” Dean said.

“You need to,” Castiel said. He reached for Dean’s hand. “Right now, you belong there.”

“I belong with you,” Dean said. “Heck, we don’t belong in this time.”

“I know,” Castiel said. “But we don't know how long we’re going to be here, and I don’t want to risk changing the timeline.”

“But can we even…” Dean asked. He squeezed Castiel’s hand. Castiel raised his free hand to lay it over where the scar from the bullet would be.

“This is different,” Castiel admitted. “But the bond is still there and we’re still tethered. It’s your current soul in your younger body. It’s still kept together by my grace.”

“I don’t feel it,” Dean admitted.  Castiel smiled.

“You do,” Castiel assured him. “You just so used to feeling the effects of my grace everywhere in your body that you don’t notice it now.”

“But doesn’t that mean, that…” Dean began, but Castiel, was already a step ahead.

“Yes, I’m still depending on you for my grace and on our proximity to avoid decline,” Castiel said. “We just have to manage until we can switch back to our time.”

“Angel, that is too risky,” Dean argued.

“Trust me, will you,” Castiel asked. He lifted Dean’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “Go back to the motel and get some sleep. We’ll get through it together, even if not physically close.” And Castiel was gone. Dean stood there for a solid minute before he began walking the way he came. When he reached the motel, he found John passed out on the couch and Sam asleep in his bed. Dean climbed into the bed designated to him, trying to fall asleep alone.

Chapter Text

The sleep that Dean got that night was far from restful. Apparently, seeing his father brought the memories of the car crash back to the forefront. So, Dean spent the night between crushing and bending metal and his father’s voice calling Castiel a monster. He was curled up under the blanket, when some pulled at the blanket and a voice announced: “It’s raining buckets.”

“Last I checked, I don’t control the weather,” Dean mumbled into his bedding.

“Drive me,” Sam demanded. “I will not walk.”

“Drive yourself,” Dean grumbled. “The key is in my jeans pocket.” The pulling stopped. Only when Sam moved to dig through Dean’s pocket, did the older brother realize his mistake. “Wait. I will drive you, give me like a minute.”

“I thought for a moment you really hit your head last night,” Sam said. Dean rolled out of bed.

“Where’s Dad?” Dean asked, as he pulled on yesterday’s clothes.

“Don’t know,” Sam said. “He was already gone when I woke up. Now hurry up or I will be late.”

“Maybe I should let you walk,” Dean grumbled as he pulled on his jacket. Sam just leveled his brother with a glare.

Sam hadn’t been exaggerating about the rain. The short sprint across the parking lot left both of them drenched. Somehow Dean found his way to the local high school.

“Remember to pick me up at 12,” Sam said.

“Sure,” Dean muttered, and Sam was out of the car. Dean stared a moment at the door before he drove off.

After checking the opening hours of the public library and realizing he had two hours to spare, Dean returned to the motel. In the end, Dean fell back asleep and had to race to pick Sam up in time.

“You’re punctual,” Sam said, when he got into the car. Dean rolled his eyes.

“Do you want to go back to the motel or come with me to the library?” Dean asked.

“You want to go to the library?” Sam asked. “Out of your own free will?” He squinted at his brother. “Did Dad already find something new and sent you to do research?”

“Do you want to come with or not?” Dean asked, annoyed.

“If you’re offering,” Sam said.

“Was that so hard?” Dean asked.

“Just drive,” Sam muttered, sinking deeper into the seat. And Dean did drive. When they arrived at the library, Sam eyed Dean like he was asking if Dean was really going in. Once Sam was convinced that Dean was in fact serious about doing something in the library, he wandered off. Dean was trying to locate the religious, mythological and folklore books. Then he spotted a familiar figure in the language section. Dean immediately corrected his path.

“While I hoped to find you here, I assumed to find you in another section,” Dean said as he slid into the chair next to Castiel.

“I need the interpretation of the runes,” Castiel explained. “Not that I had much success yet.” Castiel looked at Dean. “How are you holding up?”

“Better than I expected, honestly,” Dean said. “Dad has been gone the whole day and Sam is easier to deal with than I remembered.”

“You were barely out of your teenage years yourself,” Castiel replied. “Even if you stopped aging at 25, you grew and now have a different view on things.”

“How are you doing?” Dean asked, steering the conversation away from himself.

“My grace is adequately replenished,” Castiel stated. “And I came to the realization that Jimmy’s everyday life is very boring. How can someone do the same thing for eight hours a day, five to six days a week, for years?”

“Aren’t angels supposed to be patient?” Dean asked. Castiel leveled him with a look. Dean chuckled. He knocked their knees under the table. “Given your grace is ‘adequately’, I assume you’re preserving it?”

“Of course,” Castiel said. “We don’t know when we get back home. Since I have to keep Jimmy in his life enough to not disrupt it, we’re forced far enough apart that my grace can and will start to decline, and it’s not like we get time to replenish it if it gets too low. Especially not with your brother and father.”

“Yeah, I won’t explain to my probably homophobic father, why I’m cuddling a dude,” Dean said.

“Wise idea,” Castiel agreed. He sighed and turned back to his notes and the books. “Any idea what the counter for Yggdrasil is?”

“How does one counter the world tree?” Dean asked.

“My question exactly,” Castiel explained. “Any being in that tree works and doesn’t work at the same time.” He shut the book. He pushed himself to his feet and took the book. He looked around. “Come.” Confused, Dean pushed himself to his feet and followed the angel between the shelves.

“What’s the matter?” Dean asked.

“We, or at least one of us, is getting watched,” Castiel explained, speeding up his steps.

“You think it’s connected to whoever sent us here?” Dean asked.

“I don’t know,” Castiel said. “In case you have forgotten, I wasn’t on Earth in this time, and therefor don’t know if we’re a target because we’re us, or because we’re a hunter and an angel.”

“And I spend my time celebrating that I got old enough to buy alcohol legally,” Dean said. “For sure not in the library, so no clue if this thing would have been here even without us.” Castiel shoved the book into the shelf next to them. As they stood there for a moment, Dean heard footsteps on the carpet, way too fast to be considered normal in a library.

“We’re not only being watched, but we’ve also being followed,” Dean said. Castiel made a sound of agreement.

“Keep moving?” Castiel asked.

“Dumb question,” Dean muttered, urging Castiel to start moving again. “A public library is not the place for a fight. And given our luck, this will end in a fight.” They were speed-walking down the aisle.

“The Winchester curse,” Castiel said. “Down.” He threw his arm around Dean’s shoulder and pulled him down. Something soared over their heads. A few feet in front of them, a spear plunged into the ground, deep enough to make it stand up on its own. Skidding, Dean and Castiel came to a stop and turned around. From the other end of the aisle, a woman in a polished armor strutted towards them with resolute steps.

“Who the fuck did we piss off?” Dean asked, as the men began backing away. Castiel didn’t answer until they were even with the spear. Castiel pulled it out.

“I would guess a Valkyrja,” Castiel said.

“A what?” Dean asked.

“You would call her a Valkyrie,” Castiel explained. He handed Dean the spear and summoned his own blade.

“You’re chosen for Valhalla,” the Valkyrie announced.

“Neiter of us is dead,” Castiel protested. “And therefore, obviously did not fall in battle.” The Valkyrie looked puzzled for a moment, like she hadn’t been aware of that, but that didn’t make her stop.

“You fell in battle,” she told Dean.

“The time thing is getting confusing,” the hunter complained. “Do I fall in battle, did I fell in battle, will I have fallen in battle?”

“That is not the time for jokes,” Castiel said.

“It’s in honest question,” Dean said. “I’m alive, she is convinced I’m dead, and I’m almost immortal thanks to you, so what is it?”

“You will die in battle now,” the Valkyrie announced. Then she attacked. She pulled a sword from the sheath hanging at her side. The Valkyrie’s attack was focused on Dean. Unused to fighting with a spear and still somewhat surprised by the attack, Dean tried to use the shaft to defend himself. The sword crashed into the shaft of the spear. A screeching sound, metal on metal, echoed through the library. The sword had been driven deep into the shaft, just short of splitting it. The Valkyrie pulled the sword back. Dean stared at the split in shock. Castiel stepped in to block the next attack. This clash was not quieter than the one before. Dean started a counterattack, now with the spear properly aimed. He missed the throat—the part he had been aiming for—and hit the armor, snapping the shaft of the spear completely.

Since Dean was now without a functional weapon, Castiel pushed the human behind him and took over the fight. The Valkyrie’s sword clashed with Castiel’s blade multiple times, creating a succession of high, loud metallic sounds that threatened to make eardrums bleed. For Castiel, it was obvious that the Valkyrie did not aim to kill the angel, which made it easier to keep her occupied, but didn’t give him the opening he needed to end this. The longer this went on, the more Castiel was tempted to use his grace to just end this, but he was still hesitant as the reasons for preserving it hadn’t changed. Castiel was so focused on the fight and his perceived protection of his partner, he hadn’t kept tabs on Dean’s exact position. Since Dean had enough battle experience himself, there was no need for Castiel to keep tabs to make sure that Dean stayed out of the danger zone. But not only hadn’t Castiel keep tabs on Dean’s position, the Valkyrie didn’t do it either. Suddenly Dean was back with the top part of the broken spear and drove it into the Valkyrie’s neck as she was focused on her fight with Castiel. The Valkyrie collapsed.

“Today no one is going to Valhalla,” Dean told the body. He turned to Castiel. “We have to get out of here. It’s a miracle no one came to check on the commotion and now we have a dead body that we can’t explain without landing in jail.”

“We had an audience,” Castiel said. “Your brother.”

“Dean?” asked Sam, who had been taking cover behind a bookshelf, which had allowed him to watch the fight. So much for not explaining themselves to Sam.

Chapter Text

„Dean, what is that and why did it try to kill you?” Sam demanded to know.

“That is a Valkyrie,” Dean said. “And I would like to know why she tried to kill me too.” He exchanged a look with Castiel. “I’m alive, and even if we take what was supposed to be my death... getting shot is not really a honorable death in battle.”

“What constitutes battle and honorable is up to a Valkyrie’s discretion,” Castiel explained.

“Still doesn’t explain why she wanted me dead,” Dean said.

“Hey,” Sam interjected. “Answer my questions.”

“Then ask one I can give you an answer to,” Dean replied. “What did we do to piss off a Valkyrie?”

“Who is he anyway?” Sam asked, gesturing to Castiel, who was still holding his blade. “His blade just appeared out of nowhere.”

“That’s...” Dean trailed off, unsure if he should introduce Castiel as Castiel or under another name.

“You don’t even know your friend’s name?” Sam asked, anger rising.

“Sam, please keep your voice down. We should avoid drawing attention with a dead body on the ground,” Castiel said. “I’m Castiel, a friend of your brother.”

“You’re an entity,” Sam accused. “Like her.”

“I am,” Castiel said. “But unlike her, I don’t want to kill your brother.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?” Sam asked.

“Sam,” Dean admonished. “If Cas tried to kill me, it would backfire, badly. And Cas, put the blade away.”  

“Don’t ‘Sam’ me,” Sam replied. “You’ve been acting weird all day.” Castiel shot Dean a concerned look. “No, actually since last night, when you and Dad came back.”

“Sam, it’s a long and complicated story,” Dean said.

“Then you better start explaining,” Sam demanded, voice raising again.

“Sam,” Castiel snapped. He locked at the body on the ground, then at Dean. “She deserves better anyway.”

“Why are you looking at me?” Dean asked. “You’re not actually criticizing me for killing her, right?” Castiel just sighed. He crouched down next to the Valkyrie and gently touched her forehead. She dissolved into a golden dust.

“Easiest clean up ever,” Dean said.

“Taxing clean up,” Castiel said.

“Oh,” Dean said. That explained Castiel’s look before. He had warned Dean that his would cost the very thing he tried to avoid paying. Without a word, Dean offered the angel his hand, but Castiel just shook his head.

“I’m still waiting for an explanation,” Sam interjected, reminding Dean that he was still there. Dean pulled his hand back and focused on his younger brother.

“Listen,” Dean said. “Like I said, it’s a long story and you’re probably not going to believe me.”

“Try me,” Sam challenged.

“Cliff notes,” Dean offered. “I’m Dean, but not your Dean... not really...”

“You’re possessed,” Sam said taking a step back.

“I’m not,” Dean said. “I’m from the future.” Sam eyes grew wide.

“You’re joking,” he said.

“I wish,” Dean said. “I don’t want to be here; I didn’t ask to be here. But someone in my family pissed some Nordic deity off, apparently. Since the Valkyrie attacked us, I assume it was me or us. What exactly did we do to piss a Valkyrie off?”

“I don’t believe we pissed off the Valkyrie,” Castiel said. “She wasn’t on a revenge quest; she was on a mission.”

“She tried to collect a soul that wasn’t dead,” Dean said.

“Well, me saving you probably messed with more than just the apocalypse,” Castiel said.

“Apocalypse?” Sam asked.

“Don’t worry about it. As long as we don’t mess up the time line too much, it will not happen,” Dean said. “But if the Valkyrie was on a mission, with wrong intelligence, who sent her?”

“Valkyrie work as Odin’s messengers,” Castiel explained. “That includes their job to take the einherjar to Valhalla.”

“I’m not even going to ask,” Dean muttered. “So it’s Odin who wants to kill me or us?”

“I don’t think so,” Castiel said. “For multiple reasons. First, Odin wouldn’t have sent just one; the Valkyrie would have showed up with some of her sisters. Secondly, how would Odin have known about your death?”

“Can’t Odin see everything that happens in the world?” Sam piped up.

“That’s true, but that is even more reason to believe that Odin isn’t the one after us,” Castiel said. “He would have known that Dean is alive and that our life forces are linked and therefore the Valkyrie should have tried killing me too, which she didn’t. Also, it’s not like Odin decides who gets to Valhalla; that’s the Valkyrie’s decision. ”

“Linked life forces?” Sam asked. “Dean, your cliff notes were shit.”

“Fine,” Dean said. “Cas is an angel, and our life forces are linked since he saved my life. Happy now?”

“We will see,” Sam said.

“As I was saying,” Castiel continued. “Everything with the Valkyrie did speak against Odin as the one who send her. Also, Odin has better options than sending one of his messengers, who might or might not be his daughter. If Odin had been watching us, we would have noticed ravens following us.”

“You’re aware that ravens are native to North America, right?” Dean asked. Castiel cleared his throat and shot Dean a warning look.

“Odin would have sent his ravens to trail us, and if he really wanted us dead, he would probably send his wolves to hunt us,” Castiel said. “And even if we and the girls didn’t notice being followed by ravens, we would have noticed the wolves.”

“Good point,” Dean said. “And if Deanna and Lea had noticed any supernatural wildlife, they would have told Max... hopefully.”

“Deanna and Lea?” Sam asked.

“Yeah,” Dean said, his mind racing trying to come up with an explanation that wouldn’t blow Sam’s mind by revealing that he had two kids.

“They were here,” Sam said, apparently not expecting an explanation.

“They were?” Dean asked.

“They seemed very confused,” Sam said. “After you and Dad left for that ghost hunt, I saw someone sneaking around and the one girl looks so much like you that I mistook her for you in the dark.”

“Did they tell you anything?” Dean asked.

“Just asked me if I noticed anything weird about you and knew a guy named Castiel,” Sam said. He looked between the Dean and Castiel.

“The girls are always a step ahead of us,” Castiel said. Dean made a sound of agreement.

“But they were fine?” Dean asked.

“If you’re asking if they fought a young woman in full armor, no they didn’t,” Sam said.

“This is purely about us,” Dean said. “Fuck. Deanna and Lea were just to lure us in.” Castiel tilted his head.

“They are still forced through all this,” he said.

“I didn’t imply for a moment that we didn’t have to get them,” Dean said. “Best case, they’re forced through this displacements to create a trail we can follow. Worse case, they are guinea pigs.”

“Both options are bad,” Castiel said.

“You say that like I don’t know it,” Dean said, before muttering low enough so that Sam wouldn’t hear: “Sam and Jess are going to kill me, and Max is going to take notes.” Castiel squeezed Dean’s shoulder. Dean was about to ask if Castiel wasn’t about to tell him that that wouldn’t happen, when the world went dark.